How to repair overhead garage doors
Garage doors are available in all different designs, from rollers to sectional and up and over variants. Although they may appear different on the exterior, these overhead doors all work in the same way. Moving across metal tracks on the wall, the doors operate using spring tension to provide the power needed to open and close. Therefore, if you encounter any issues with your garage door not functioning easily or properly, the solution can be simple.
Please be aware that you should not attempt to repair roll-up garage doors that have just one torsion spring. Doing so may result in injury as the tension in the spring can be very strong. If you have a garage door with this type of spring that needs repairing, professionals from providers such as A.B.I. garage doors Leeds should be contacted.
What you may need:
- Screwdriver
- Rubber mallet
- Marking level
- Wood filler
- Hollow fiber plugs
- Carpenter glue
- Household cleaning products
When inspecting the metal tracks inside the garage, you should work with the garage door firmly closed. If these tracks have grease or dirt on them then this can easily be cleaned using household products. In order to ensure your garage doors operate smoothly you should regularly clean the roller and tracks, and wipe them dry afterwards.
If there is any damage or dents to the tracks then these can be carefully worked out using a flat piece of wood and a rubber mallet. However, if the damage is exceptional then you should contact repair professionals. You should also check the mounting brackets that fix the tracks to the interior of the garage. These can come loose over time, but can be easily fixed by tightening screws and bolts back firmly into the bracket with a screwdriver.
If the issue still continues then your problem may be where the tracks are aligned. On roll-up garage doors vertical sections of the metal track should be exactly upright and horizontal tracks should slant slightly downwards towards the back of the garage. Both tracks should be positioned at the same height on the walls. Check the track levels and, if not properly aligned, loosen the screws that hold the mounting brackets in place. Make sure not to remove them completely. You should then carefully tap the tracks back into position and recheck the tracks to make sure they are correct. You can then tighten the screws firmly into the mounting bracket.
Loose hardware can also affect the performance of your overhead garage doors. Make sure all screws on the plates of swing-up doors are tight. If you have a roll-up door, then you should check the hinges that hold the different sections together. Any loose screws or bolts should be tightened and damaged hinges replaced.
To fix an enlarged screw hole, replace the screw with a new, longer one that is of the same diameter. You will need to use a hollow fiber plug which has been dipped in carpenter’s glue when fixing the new screw. If the surrounding wood is cracked then you should remove the hinge completely and fill the crack with wood filler, moving the hinge onto solid wood if possible. Once the filler has dried, you can replace the hinge. Servicing the hinges will usually fix the door if it is sagging on one side.
Check out the main website for information on How to Paint a Garage Door, and How to Level an Uneven Floor in a garage.
